Work

Cover crop rotation combined with moderate nitrogen application enhances the quality of fresh-eating waxy maize (Zea mays L. ceratina Kulesh)

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Northeast China is the primary production region for waxy maize ( Zea mays L. ceratina Kulesh). To comprehensively evaluate the effects of cover crops on the fresh-eating quality of waxy maize under different nitrogen application rates, a two-factor field experiment was conducted in Northeast China during 2022–2023. Factor one included three cropping patterns: waxy maize monoculture (CK), waxy maize-clover rotation (ZT), and waxy maize-rape rotation (ZB). Factor two consisted of five nitrogen application rates, namely 0, 60, 120, 180, and 240 kg ha −1 . At harvest, kernel composition, starch gelatinization characteristics, and thermodynamic characteristics of waxy maize were determined. Compared with CK, ZT and ZB treatments decreased gelatinization enthalpy (Δ H gel ), while increasing retrogradation percentage (RP) by 4.41% and 7.61%, respectively. The trough viscosity (TV) and final viscosity (FV) during gelatinization of the rotation systems increased by 17.1% and 13.03% on average relative to CK. ZT and ZB treatments increased amylopectin by 32.24% and 41.13% than CK, particularly reaching maximum values of 140.15 and 138.92 mg g −1 under the 180 kg ha −1 nitrogen rate (N 180 ). In addition, for every 1 kg ha −1 increase in nitrogen application, kernel protein content rose by 0.0263 and 0.027 mg g −1 in ZT and ZB treatments, respectively. These increments were 3.14% and 5.88% higher than that in CK. Overall, cover crop rotations accounted for 28.5% of the enhancement in waxy maize fresh-eating quality, indicating that this practice is an essential agronomic strategy for optimizing the processing traits of waxy maize starch. Under conventional nitrogen fertilization (240 kg ha −1 ), rotating waxy maize with cover crops significantly enhanced kernel nutritional quality, while effectively regulating starch processing traits. In conclusion, rotation with cover crops serves as a green and sustainable approach to improve the fresh-eating quality of waxy maize, providing valuable theoretical and practical insights for high-quality waxy maize production.

Source: Journal of Integrative Agriculture

DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2026.07.012

Authors: Long Zhang, Mengjing Sun, Longwen Zhang, Xiaona Wang, Yanjie Lv, Yongjun Wang